Alex McLeish has praised the SPL for postponing the matches involving Rangers and Celtic prior to Scotland's Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy.
The SPL agreed to a request from the Scottish Football Association, instigated by McLeish, to rearrange Celtic's home match against Falkirk on November 10 and Rangers' trip to St Mirren the following day.
New dates for both games will be announced in "due course", the SPL have confirmed, and Scotland manager McLeish is delighted a large number of his players will have a free weekend ahead of the national team's crucial fixture.
"It's great news. We really pushed for it," McLeish told the Daily Mail.
"The managers were behind us all the way. It frees up about 10 players and, while I was never worried about match sharpness, it makes sure these players don't get injured. It is a real boost, a fantastic bonus, and we really appreciate it."
However the SPL are upset with the SFA who declined to meet the cost of postponing the two matches.
SFA chief executive Gordon Smith approached the SPL to seek the postponements after McLeish suggested it would benefit the national team for the Old Firm stars to be allowed a break.
But SPL executive chairman Lex Gold has been unhappy with the SFA's attitude towards finding a solution to suit all parties, and said: "It is a matter of considerable disappointment that the SFA has refused to help defray the costs which will be incurred by our clubs."
McLeish draws a significant number of his Scotland squad and first-choice line-up from Glasgow's biggest two teams, players such as captain Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch, David Weir, Paul Hartley, Alan Hutton, Kris Boyd and Stephen McManus.
01 October 2007
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson said his should have been awarded a penalty in the 3-1 defeat by Hearts.
"We could have got a penalty when Stephen O'Donnell was pulled back," MacPherson said after the game.
"There was an even more clear-cut penalty in the second half with a hand ball," he added.
"I wouldn't say decisions solely cost us the game because there was some poor defending. We get accused of blaming the referee for defeats but we're not."
MacPherson said he was confident his side would bounce back from the defeat at St Mirren Park, but admitted defensive mistakes were proving costly.
"We feel sore but that's the harsh reality of SPL football," he said.
"Hearts had a good chance early on in the game but after that we completely dominated proceedings and had good quality crosses in to the box. We created half-chances and I felt reasonably comfortable but then we lost another goal from a set-piece. We have lost far too many goals from set-pieces and it's something that we have to go back to and look at."
01 October 2007
Hearts assistant coach Stephen Frail said he was delighted with the victory after the 3-1 win over St Mirren.
Saints were incensed when Michael Stewart earned and scored a penalty after tumbling under David Van Zanten's challenge in the second-half.
"When they come from us we'll take them. But I certainly don't think it was a dive from Stewart," said Frail.
"We were solid and pretty much controlled the game, although St Mirren pressured us a bit after they scored."
St Mirren were also aggrieved when they appealed for a penalty when Eggert Jonsson appeared to foul Stephen O'Donnell.
Frail said: "Whether St Mirren could have got one at the other end, I don't know. I don't make the decisions either way so when they come we will take them. I'm just delighted to get the three points."
01 October 2007
St Mirren full-back David van Zanten has accused Hearts' Michael Stewart of "conning" the referee to win a penalty during Sunday's SPL encounter.
Midfielder Stewart tumbled under pressure from van Zanten for Hearts' second goal of a 3-1 victory.
"It wasn't a penalty, probably not even shoulder to shoulder," said van Zanten, whose side had already had two penalty claims of their own rejected.
"He just threw himself down to the ground and conned the ref."
Stewart accepted the decision by referee John Underhill, scored from the spot and defended himself against accusations of diving.
"I was running into the box trying to get across him," said the Hearts midfielder.
"I felt there was contact. If you get across him it makes it extremely difficult for him. I wasn't deliberately trying to fall down, although sometimes your legs can get tangled without meaning it."
